A Paschal (Easter) Candle made of Beeswax

The use of a special candle at Easter

(Pasch or Pascha from PESACH or Passover)

was first mentioned in 384 C.E.

in a letter attributed to St. Jerome in 

northern Italy.

He wrote elsewhere that candles were lighted

throughout the East when the Gospel was read,

not to put darkness to flight,

BUT as a sign of joy!

A prayer to dedicate such a Paschal candle

was credited to St. Ambrose (Bishop of Milan

374-397):

For now we see the

splendour of this column,

kindled to the glory of God

from shining flame:

a flame though it be divided

into parts, yet suffers no loss

of light, being fed from the 

ever melting wax that the

mother bee brought forth

to form the substance

of this precious candle. .  .

O TRULY Blessed and

marvelous MOTHER BEE!"